Its [the right's] characteristic representatives are local personalities. They convey the general view of their village or their neighbourhood. They are granted their mandates much more by virtue of their reputation than by virtue of their membership of a party … They are the archetypes of notables, great and small, who can become mayors, members of the conseil général, deputies or senators on the strength of their prestigious ancestors. When they arrive at the Palais Bourbon or the Palais Luxembourg, they are suspicious of those who recruit to party groups – the title that fits them best is that of Independents.

The MRP has only a few … of those ‘notables’: large landowners, veterinary surgeons, doctors, artisans and shopkeepers, in contact with the country who, until recently, formed almost the only structure of local politics. It is they who still hold the majority of electoral mandates, whence the strength of the Radicals in the conseil de la république.

Visiting the village notable to ask him to stand for the conseil général in a, few months under our colours [one was told]: ‘here you know extreme positions are not liked’. The notable had just retired as a colonel or inspector of education and he wanted something to do; or he had quarrelled with the incumbent councillor over some local matter and suddenly become interested in politics; or again he had always been ‘for the General’ and he supported our action, but in standing for election did he not risk losing the credit that his family had built up over such a long time and which he was allowing us to benefit from?